MANCHESTER UNITED fans have Marcus Rashford’s number and so do club staff.
“You saw how he performed when he was playing for a new contract,” one senior figure said after Rashford joined Barcelona in July.
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Marcus Rashford is unlikely to ever pull on a Man Utd shirt again Credit: Getty Images
Man Utd are enjoying a much-needed renaissance having secured Champions League football Credit: AP
Rashford’s career-best campaign of 30 goals in 2022-23 resulted in a five-year, £325,000-a-week contract in July 2023.
Yet just five games into the 203-24 season, United matchgoers were on Rashford’s case in a 3-1 home defeat to Brighton.
Rashford’s contract signalled the beginning of the end for his United career – supporters were on his back as he failed to back up his salary increase.
Erik ten Hag disciplined the England star on at least two occasions, and it was strike three and he was out under Ruben Amorim.
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Amorim is long gone but recruitment is not dictated by the United manager/head coach any more.
Michael Carrick was a team-mate and then coach of Rashford’s for nearly six years.
When Carrick was asked about the possibility of Rashford returning, he did not sound like someone about to dust off a ‘Welcome home’ banner for the Mancunian.
United want a left-sided player in the summer, with Alejandro Garnacho gone and Jadon Sancho going. They do not see Rashford as the option to fill that void.
United head of recruitment Christopher Vivell and technical director Jason Wilcox Credit: Getty
Rashford was substituted on his last appearance for United in Plzen Credit: Getty
With United players queuing up to talk up a title challenge, director of football Jason Wilcox and head of recruitment Christopher Vivell are not about to jeopardise that by resurrecting the past.
United had Rashford’s number – literally – last year when they handed it to Matheus Cunha.
Cunha has ended up settling on the left wing in Michael Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 formation and is more effective than he was during his bright five months under Amorim.
Three of Cunha’s five goals under Carrick have been winners and he was on target against Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Cunha could upgrade his surfing celebration to crowd-surfing, he is that much of a crowdpleaser. The same cannot be said for Rashford, booed on his final appearance for United at Viktoria Plzen.
United have the fit-again Patrick Dorgu in reserve. Dorgu has not set the world alight at United but he is better as a winger than a full back.
The booing of Rashford in Plzen was not an isolated case. Rashford got grief off United fans when he limped off amid the 2024 FA Cup semi-final collapse against Coventry City and there were other incidents where he was cheered off.
With the exception of his 30-goal haul, Rashford has tallied single-figures in his other seasons with United since 2021.
Rashford admitted after the agonising Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy he had entered the tournament low on confidence. A shoulder injury compromised his form and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had run him into the ground.
Rashford had issues with Solskjaer’s handling of his injury in 2021 Credit: Reuters
Rashford was out of sorts in 2023-24 Credit: Getty
Carrick will have a good gauge on Rashford’s character through his three years working with him as a member of Solskjaer’s backroom staff.
During Solskjaer’s final match in charge at Watford in November 2021, his assistant Mike Phelan had a word with Rashford with United 2-0 down in the first half and his body language was all wrong.
Rashford was replaced by Donny van de Beek at half-time. Rashford’s failure to acknowledge Amorim when he was substituted in Plzen three years later suggested lessons had not been learned.
So United’s issues with Rashford date beyond Erik ten Hag’s second season when Rashford attended an ill-advised birthday party in Manchester hours after a 3-0 derby defeat and embarked on a Belfast bender three months later.
Rashford, who turns 29 in October, is in decent nick as he approaches his peak years. He is playing for the one club he would have picked if he ever left United and seems assured of appearing at a third World Cup with England.
A maiden league title can be secured in this weekend’s El Clasico against Real Madrid at Camp Nou. Boy’s own stuff.
Something sudden would have to transpire for Rashford’s future to be resolved come England’s first group game against Croatia on June 17, though.
The deadline for Barca to make Rashford’s season-long loan a permanent deal is June 15. Some clarity is required before England play in Texas, for the sake of all parties.
However far England go in North America, Rashford will be entitled to a three-week break after his participation ends.
Rashford did not have an assigned locker in United’s plush new £50million training hub that opened in August.
It is a building in which he has not stepped foot. If he does somehow return, he will not even have a squad number.
Rashford is likely to be in the World Cup squad Credit: PA
Man Utd ratings vs Liverpool
MAN UTD were involved in a thriller as they overcame Liverpool 3-2 at Old Trafford.
A brilliant start looked to have been thrown away before Kobbie Mainoo came to the rescue.
Here’s how the players rated…
Senne Lammens – 5Endured his worst moment in goal for United as his dreadful pass out to Alexis Mc Allister handed Liverpool’s equaliser on a plate.
The Belgian had a relatively quiet first half before playing a huge role in United imploding. Recovered somewhat to hack the ball off the line after a scramble.
Diogo Dalot – 5Worked to get forward as much as possible before the break but should have closed the gap on Szoboszlai before his goal.
Harry Maguire – 6After keeping United’s strong defensive shape in the first half, Maguire fell apart in the second.
Sold himself too easy to allow Szoboszlai to finish. And he continued to be plagued by more shaky moments as the game dragged on.
Ayden Heaven – 6Heaven had dealt with his three game cover for Lisandro Martinez with such maturity.
He will only keep developing at this level after a chaotic grudge match between the rivals.
Luke Shaw – 6Provided the cross for the second goal and defended well against Jeremie Frimpong, who never got to use his pace advantage against the left back.
Fell apart a little after the break as he was booked for a foul on Frimpong and booted the ball out for corner under little pressure.
Casemiro – 6The midfielder was pivotal in keeping United’s heads after Liverpool equalised but struggled to stem the flows of the visitors’ attacks.
He headed two free-kicks clear but should have done better when Bruno Fernandes from him a point-blank range.
Kobbie Mainoo – 8The Old Trafford announcer said “Manchester born and bred” when Mainoo fired in United’s winner as the academy graduate endured his crowning moment following a torrid 16 months.
Such mature and an esteemed performance from the England hopeful. The 21-year-old has improved defensively and was one of the most fouled players of the first half, with Mac Allister going unpunished for a trip.
Bruno Fernandes – 8The skipper was electric again and was central to cutting through Liverpool like a hot knife through butter.
He was denied matching the Premier League assist record after Freddie Woodman pushed his cross onto Sesko .
He came inches away from tripling United’s lead, which ended up being more important when it was 2-2. He was incensed with the referee after the interval.
Matheus Cunha – 7The Brazilian was a welcome return for Carrick after missing the Brentford win through injury. Cunha left everything out there.
His opener was his ninth goal of the campaign and he offered more threat on the left wing than Amad. Moved to No9 in the final 20 minutes.
Bryan Mbeumo – 7Mbeumo has been stronger since being dropped against Leeds, but United are still waiting to see the player who started the season so strongly.
His back heel that hit the post was classy but proved pivotal as Liverpool levelled shortly after.
Benjamin Sesko – 7The 22-year-old, who plenty wrote off far too quickly, is now United’s top goalscorer of the season, with 11 in his debut campaign.
He was a handle for Virgil van Dijk and gave Ibrahima Konate the run around, with the Frenchman exacting revenge by launching the striker into the advertising boards. It might have injured him to be point of being replaced at half-time.
SUBS
Amad (for Sesko, 46) – 5Endured a horrible introduction after a lazy pass was picked up Szoboszlai on the half-way line before the Liverpool star’s goal.
Did well to head a cross into the box which fell to Mainoo for his goal.
Patrick Dorgu (for Mbeumo, 76) – 5First minutes since pulling his hamstring at Arsenal. Fumbled on the floor when Cunha put him through.
Despite being low on game time, Dorgu fired well wide in stoppage time.
Joshua Zirkzee (for Cunha, 85) – N/A
Leny Yoro (for Fernandes 90+5) – N/A
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